jonathan butz » Auto

Lexus LS finally grows up

Jonathan — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 18:10:11 +0000

Lexus’ flagship sedan has long been the car of choice among luxury car owners who value reliability and comfort, but competing German sedans have always had more aggressive styling and finer amenities. No longer.

The 2007 LS460 is a car truly worthy of the Lexus brand.

Toyota’s Minivan Concept

Jonathan — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 04:38:37 +0000

Toyota wonders what a minivan could be, since theirs just isn’t hip.

Here’s one of their ideas:

I kinda want one…

Ford builds death-traps…and people buy them

Jonathan — Thu, 08 Sep 2005 01:48:45 +0000

Let’s recap Ford’s repeated attempts to kill their customers:
Pintos that explode and burn you alive
Broncos that roll over
Crown Victorias that explode but don’t necessarily burn you alive
Explorers whose tires explode
Over 16 Million(!) cars of many models with dangerous cruise control systems

The latest addition to the Ford death-trap list was made public in May 2005 after Darletta Mohlis of Iowa burned to death in a fire caused by the defective cruise control switch in her husband’s 1996 F-150. Unlike most automobile fires, this one began in the middle of the night while the car was parked and off, with the key in the house with its occupants.

Since then, Ford has been recalling vehicles slowly in response to three deaths and more than five hundred reported cases of fire and injury, about half of which are for models not yet recalled. Today they announced the recall of 3.8 million vehicles.

Affected vehicles:
Lincoln Mark VII/VIII 1994-1998
Tarus/Sable 1993-1995
Econoline 1992-2003
F-Series 1993-2003
Windstar 1994-2003
Explorer 1994-2003
Expedition/Navigator 1997-2003
Ranger 1995-2003

Ford continues to demonstrate a clear pattern of negligence that is inexplicable and inexcusable. Don’t buy a Ford. Don’t ride in Fords. Don’t let your friends drive Fords. There are plenty of automobile manufactures that are actually interested in their customers’ safety.

Consumer Reports on gas mileage

Jonathan — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 20:38:43 +0000

Consumer Reports has just released its report on ‘actual’ gas mileage obtained on over 300 vehicles.

Vehicles fall short of the quoted EPA City Mileage by as much as 50%.
Numbers reported by CR are nearly always lower and very distant from EPA figures for City tests, but CR results for Hiway driving are often higher than and much closer to EPA figures.

Apparently, the test for city driving is not nearly as good as that for hiway driving.

Cars you should buy … cars you shouldn’t

Jonathan — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 05:46:04 +0000

The J.D. Power three year reliability study is complete for models released in 2002. Not surprising, Lexus tops the list for the eleventh consecutive year (which is why I drive one).

Surprises come from Lincoln and Buick earning third and fourth. Mercedes-Benz is frighteningly low. Other surprises come from Volkswagon and Audi waaaaay down on the list. Under no circumstances even consider Mini, Land Rover or Kia.

2005 Report

The 2002 Lexus LS430 gets the best score for any single model ever, only 90 problems per 100 vehicles, the first car ever to score below 100.

Anti-seatbelt advocate achieves irony

Jonathan — Sun, 16 Jan 2005 04:54:17 +0000

Nebraska resident Derek Kieper who wrote on the excessive cost of enforcing seatbelt legislation was recently killed in an automobile accident…because he was not wearing a seatbelt.

Individual Innovation: Highway Centerline

Jonathan — Sun, 09 Jan 2005 21:40:18 +0000

In 1912, Dr. June A. Carroll of Indio, California, took it upon herself to make safer a mile stretch of nearby road by painting a white line down its center. The California Highway Commission soon adopted her idea (Road & Track 200412, 16).

Served by Citroen Commercial

Jonathan — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 18:47:15 +0000

Citroens weren’t at all cool until they rose up and got their groove on.

Update: Where there’s Internet, there’s satire.

Song: Les Rythmes Digitales – Jacques Your Body (Make Me Sweat)

Microbus for me

Jonathan — Fri, 05 Nov 2004 21:22:08 +0000

So, someone built a Microbus with a sub 15s 1/4 mile. Well…maybe it does that. I haven’t seen many cubes that will go 175. It does have a 2.7l Porsche engine with a large turbo borrowed from something else and a matched five-speed.

Low riders…with style

Jonathan — Fri, 29 Oct 2004 14:42:02 +0000

Low rider thread: some pretty, some gaudy, some with ladies.

This one really bounces.